masculinity
noun
mas·cu·lin·i·ty
ˌma-skyə-ˈli-nə-tē 
: the quality or nature of the male sex : the quality, state, or degree of being masculine or manly
challenging traditional notions about masculinity and femininity
… a style which alternates between a polished grace and blunt masculinity.—
Stuart Keate
Stuart KeateThe man controlling his environment is today the prevailing American image of masculinity.—Susan Faludi
Susan FaludiExamples of masculinity in a Sentence
some men believe that wearing pink would undermine their masculinity
Recent Examples on the Web
And Motel Destino is a very Brazilian expression of poisonous masculinity.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Something that bothered Rick was confidence or anything that whiffed of overt masculinity.
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
In the special filmed at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, Fleming bounds across the stage sharing his takes on masculinity, conga lines, Trader Joes, Oreos, NPR, dog breeds and more.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
The mania for ancient Greece and Rome is in ample display among the current descendants of the Nazis, the alt-right more than happy to cosplay their fantasy of classical masculinity and racial exceptionality.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for masculinity
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Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Something that bothered Rick was confidence or anything that whiffed of overt masculinity.
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
In the special filmed at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, Fleming bounds across the stage sharing his takes on masculinity, conga lines, Trader Joes, Oreos, NPR, dog breeds and more.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
The mania for ancient Greece and Rome is in ample display among the current descendants of the Nazis, the alt-right more than happy to cosplay their fantasy of classical masculinity and racial exceptionality.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for masculinity
Cite this Entry
“Masculinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masculinity. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
masculinity
noun
mas·cu·lin·i·ty
ˌmas-kyə-ˈlin-ət-ē
plural masculinities
: the quality, state, or degree of being masculine
measurement of masculinity or femininity—Psychological Abstracts
Psychological AbstractsLove words? Need even more definitions?
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